Clemson could extend its winning run to 22 games when it travels to Kentucky to face Louisville on Saturday.
After becoming the first team in the history of the playoff era to win 15 games last season, the reigning national champions have started the defense of their title to the tune of six straight wins.
The Tigers came within a missed two-point conversion from losing against North Carolina in Week 5 but survived the scare and last week extended their winning record with a 45-14 rout of the Florida Seminoles.
While each of Clemson's wins since Week 3 has set a fresh program record in terms of winning streak—the previous record stood at 17 games—it hasn't been enough to keep the Tigers top of the Associated Press Top 25 poll.
The defending champions began the season as the No. 1 ranked team ahead of Alabama—whom they defeated in the championship game last season—but dropped to second behind the Crimson Tide after their narrow win over North Carolina and slipped down to third this week, as they were overtaken by LSU.
Admittedly, the latest drop says more about LSU's meteoric rise than Clemson's perceived struggles.
The Tigers' fitness and focus have both been questioned this season since they only just edged past the Tar Heels, but went some way to silence the doubters with an impressive win against the Seminoles.
Clemson's defense shut down Florida State for the first two quarters, while the Tigers offense was nearly flawless on the offensive side of the ball.
Trevor Lawrence finished 17-of-25 throwing for 170 yards and three touchdowns, while Travis Etienne rushed for 127 yards over 17 carries as the Tigers racked up 552 yards of total offense.
"I was really proud of the way we responded after two weeks ago," Lawrence said in his post-game press conference. "It was really good to see."
Clemson's remaining schedule doesn't include any ranked teams—it only faced one so far this season—but the narrow escape against North Carolina and Georgia's surprise defeat to South Carolina last week serve as a reminder that each game has to be treated on its own merit.
As such, while the Tigers arrive in Kentucky as 24-point favorites, they can't afford to underestimate Louisville.
At 4-2, the Cardinals sit second behind Clemson in the Atlantic Division of the ACC and are on a two-game winning streak after beating Boston College 42-39 in Week 6 and Wake Forest 62-59 last week.
The Cardinals led by 14 with three quarters gone against the Demon Deacons but almost relinquished the lead in the final period, as Wake Forest mounted a furious comeback.
Louisville ultimately held out to secure its first road win of the season but its defense will have to be much better if it is to stop Clemson this week.
Here's all you need to know ahead of Saturday.
When and where is the game?
The Louisville Cardinals host the Clemson Tigers at Cardinal Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky, on Saturday, October 19.
Kick-off is scheduled for 12 p.m. ET.
TV coverage
The game will be broadcast nationally on ABC.
Live stream
A live stream will be available via ABC's digital platforms.
Series record
Saturday will be only the sixth game between Clemson and Louisville, with the Tigers winning all the previous meetings so far.
Last season Clemson hammered the Cardinals 77-16 at home and on its last visit to Louisville it won 47-21.
Odds
According to Oddschecker, Clemson is a 24-point favorite and is 91/100 to win and cover the spread, while Louisville is a 9/1 underdog.
About the writer
Dan Cancian is currently a reporter for Newsweek based in London, England. Prior to joining Newsweek in January 2018, he was a news and business reporter at International Business Times UK. Dan has also written for The Guardian and The Observer.
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